Saturday, 14 June 2025

Day 44 of the run across the USA 2025

The overnight stop at Walmart, Jefferson City was pretty rowdy. There was a person on a quad bike driving fast (and loud) up and down the lanes of the car park. They left eventually and I fell asleep at 9pm. According to Alan, they came back at 11pm. I must have been in a deep sleep and knew nothing about it.  

When the 0515 alarm went off I asked for an extra hour. Then, at 0615, I said that would not put a timescale of getting out today. I was absolutely exhausted. I went back to sleep until 1030. It was pouring down with rain outside so I had another few hours. I eventually woke up at 1345 and the rain had stopped. That meant that I’d had almost 13 hours of sleep in total. A new record for this tour and then some!! The 1120 miles in 43 days (with no rest days) had obviously taken its toll. 

After a short drive to the start line I set off at 1430. The aim today was simply to have an active recovery. Just to get some miles done.

There were a few busy roads to contend with but I soon found myself on some quieter country roads.  

I rang Donna back at HQ and told her about the current situation and the monumental sleep I’d had. As per usual, she had a reassuring tone and a good way of explaining things to me. 

All of a sudden there were a number of climbs and descents. The very definition of the term “rolling roads”. 

I passed a few houses with dogs outside. They all had a good old bark at me. Apart for the golden retriever below that is. Every time I see one I’m reminded of Órlaith back home. 

A deer ran out in front of me and I wasn’t quick enough to get a photo. The cows, a little down the way, didn’t present such a problem. 

The final climb of the day to Elston was quite a challenge. My feet are not in a good state at present for the ups and downs. I’m hoping the damage will improve over the coming days. 

Alan did inform me that I’d be back on the Katy Trail in a few days (after Sedalia). It’s only an 18 mile stretch but one I'm not looking forward to. 

I stopped for the day after 6.8 miles. Alan had found a good spot to stay overnight. It’s another church; The First Baptist Church of Elston. At the time of writing (1945), it’s very quiet here and there’s a bit of a breeze. I could be in for a decent nights sleep. 


In terms of the next two days, the aim is to make it to an RV park called Lazy Liz Katy Trail Horse and RV Campground. That’s 56 miles away. Then, in another 13 days, we have a changeover of support team in Dodge City. That’s another 399 miles from the RV campground. That requires an average of 30.7 miles during that period. With healing feet (hopefully) and a better, flatter road surface then that’s a few plus points. Not to get too complacent though, I fully expect peak temperatures to be in the 30s Celsius by then (that’s 86+ Fahrenheit). 

This run now has elements of USA 2011 and Australia 2013. It was around this time in 2011 that I was running through Colorado. I had a few short days due to mental and physical fatigue back then. Progress was slow. The 2013 Australia comparisons are all about my feet and a seemingly unassailable mileage deficit. 

The message is that “I just have to find a way”. That might mean finding a way to get to the next town, state or just to the end of the road. I’ve always managed to do just that and this run is no different. 

What is different are the connections that have been made while out here as well as the support online. Today, a donation for $150 was made from someone I met recently who wishes to remain anonymous. I later heard that the person who made the donation “thinks you’re an inspiration and is so invested in what you’re doing”. As with many similar messages and comments that is extremely humbling to hear. 

If you are enjoying following the journey and think my efforts are worthy of a donation to St Benedict's Hospice, please visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/rungeordierun2025

To go off on a tangent today, I think what I do can all be traced back to 2 simple instructions that my Mam and Dad used to instil in me. Firstly, with arms stretched as wide as the Angel of the North, my Dad would say “Time and the universe is this big.”. Then, with a squeezed pinch of his fingers he’d follow up with “… and we are only here for this small amount of time”. I guess it was his way of saying make best use of your time on this earth. 

My Mam simply said “just do your best”. She was forever telling me how proud she was of me. 

So with that wisdom frozen in time, I begin to understand why I do what I do. 

The main purpose is to raise funds for St. Benedict’s Hospice of course and repay the debt of gratitude I feel. Second to that is the opportunity that fundraising and being a volunteer has given me to deal with the absolute grief that I’ve been burdened with all these years. 

I think I realised this week that being in the spotlight gives me a chance to keep the memory of my parents alive. I worry that one day, they will be forgotten and nobody will mention their names again. 

So with that, I’ll close with photos of my Dad, Terry Allison and my Mam, Margery Allison. I’ll continue to make them proud for as long as I can put one foot in front of the other. 

TUNE OF THE DAY: The Dambusters March - Central band of the Royal Air Force